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US Congress pushes for terrorist label for Haqqani
Scientists find Grand Canyon-sized rift under Antarctic ice
Zardari chairs high level meeting at Presidency
Govt likely to appoint Yaseen Malik as Secretary Defence
Clashes rage in Aleppo, 114 killed across Syria: NGO
US Midwest struggles amid worst drought in 50 years
Huge fire tears through New York apartment building
Powerful winds leave trail of destruction in Chile
Oil prices rise after Draghi's euro support
Euro strengthens after Draghi comments
Scientists: Heat wave hurts London air quality
Windies cruising at 145-0 in reply to NZ's 351
Boucher could recover most of eyesight: doctor
Victory lap: Olympic torch cheered through London
Olympics: Senegal spoil Britain party

US Congress pushes for terrorist label for Haqqani

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Congress ratcheted up the pressure on the Obama administration to slap the terrorist label on the Haqqani network, the militant group responsible for plotting and launching attacks from Pakistan against US-led forces in Afghanistan. By voice vote, the Senate approved a bill Thursday that would require the secretary of state to report to Congress on whether the Haqqani network meets the criteria to be designated a foreign terrorist organization and if not, to explain why.  The report is due within 30 days of the president signing the measure. The bill now goes to Obama. The administration has sanctioned top individuals of the Haqqani network, but it is still reviewing whether to label the entire organization. That delay has frustrated members of Congress. Rep. Mike Rogers, Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee, had added an amendment to the bill stating that it was the sense of Congress that the Haqqani network meets the definition of a terrorist organization and they should be designated as one. The State Department has defended its effort, citing its sanctions of the network s top individuals. The Haqqani network, largely operating in eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan, is affiliated with both the Taliban and al-Qaeda. US officials say it represents one of the biggest threats to Afghanistan stability because it is believed to use Pakistan as a rear base for attacks on American and coalition troops in Afghanistan. The congressional votes come just weeks after the United States and Pakistan ended a rancorous seven-month standoff with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton apologizing to Pakistan for the killing of 24 Pakistani troops last fall and in return securing the reopening of critical NATO supply lines into Afghanistan. Throughout the uneasy relationship between the United States and Pakistan, American officials have pressed Islamabad to crack down on the extremist Haqqani network. The bill states that "nothing in this act may be construed to infringe upon the sovereignty of Pakistan to combat militant or terrorist groups operating inside its boundaries." In May, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence committees wrote to Clinton asking her to act immediately in labeling the Haqqani network a terrorist group. The four leaders said that based on meetings with US and Afghan officials in Afghanistan, "it was clear that the Haqqani network continues to launch sensational and indiscriminate attacks against US interests in Afghanistan and the group poses a continuing threat to innocent men, women and children in the region." The four noted that it had been six months since the State Department had undertaken its "final formal review" of the Haqqani network. "The Haqqanis have continued to attack US troops and the US embassy in Kabul during that period," the lawmakers said. The letter also noted that the Obama administration may have been reluctant to act while Marc Grossman, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was trying to negotiate a reconciliation agreement with the Taliban that may have included or affected the Haqqani network.

Scientists find Grand Canyon-sized rift under Antarctic ice

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They say is contributing to ice melt and a consequent rise in the sea level.The rift, some 1.5 kilometres (one mile) deep, 10 kilometres wide and 100 kilometres long, was found by researchers using radar to measure the subglacial topography, glaciologist Robert Bingham told AFP. "If you imagine the Grand Canyon but filled with ice and then even that whole feature is then also uniformly beneath another kilometre of ice," is how he described the feature whose magnitude he said was a "surprise" to the team. Scientist believe a shrinking West Antarctic Ice Sheet is responsible for about 10 percent of climate-change-induced sea level rise, which if unchecked threatens to flood many coastal cities within a few generations. The sheet, a huge mass of ice up to four kilometres thick that covers the land surface and stretches into the sea, is melting faster than any other part of Antarctica. But scientists  sketchy knowledge of the sub-surface topography has made it difficult to predict the exact rate and extent of ice sheet loss, said the study published in Nature. The newly discovered valley, formed long before the region was covered by ice, is believed to be part of a wider West Antarctic rift system, "which we ve known exists but we don t know where it goes," said Bingham."We are now getting a better idea that parts of this rift system actually go ... further west than we previously knew about."The type of rift found under the Ferrigno Ice Stream is caused when a continental plate starts to tear apart -- like the large lakes that fill rift systems in parts of East Africa today. "It is the shape of the rift that contributes to the fact that the region is vulnerable to ice melt," Bingham explained of the Antarctic discovery. "Because the rift is there it means that the ice is both deeper and slopes inland as you move away from the sea and both of those conditions make this a vulnerable topography to ice thinning effects" by allowing warm sea water to flow inland along a trough created by the rift to attack the ice on the coastline. Bingham said the find showed that not only modern climate factors but also geology is contributing to ice loss. "I think where it changes our view just ever so slightly is that this issue is traditionally conceptualised as a modern effect of global warming, and what we see is that that modern effect is actually superimposed on a very ancient geological evolution. "It helps us to appreciate that the whole process is something that occurs over many cycles of time."Scientists had only visited the region once before, over 50 years ago, in 1961.This time, experts from the University of Aberdeen and the British Antarctic Survey conducted three months of fieldwork in 2010. "We targeted the area because we knew from satellite measurements that there was ice thinning taking place," said Bingham."When we did the survey and we found this rift, that actually was a surprise that it was much, much deeper and preconditioned to this thinning than we expected." The only way to find such a valley covered by an ice sheet is by using radar on the spot, he added.

Zardari chairs high level meeting at Presidency

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Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Deputy Prime Minister Ch Pervez Elahi and PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Army chief General Pervez Kayyani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday night. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh was also present during the meeting. Current energy situation in the county and the ways and means to address the power issues were discussed during the meeting. According to sources, current national and regional security situation were also discussed during the meeting.

Govt likely to appoint Yaseen Malik as Secretary Defence

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The government has decided to appoint Lt Gen (retd) Asif Yaseen Malik as the new secretary of Defence, here on Thursday. Malik would replace Gilani’s trusted secretary Nargis Sethi. According to sources, the decision has been finalised at the presidency and the notification of the appointment would be issued today. The sources also said that although it was not confirmed that President Asif Ali Zardari’s meeting with COAS Gen Ashfaq Kayani helped in the breakthrough but the series of events hints at the meeting. Yaseen Malik has served Pakistan army at different positions including Core Commander Peshawar.

Clashes rage in Aleppo, 114 killed across Syria: NGO

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Fighting raged in Syria s second city Aleppo on Thursday afternoon, a watchdog said, as regime forces shelled a village in Damascus province, killing five children. A security source told AFP troops were preparing to launch an all-out offensive on rebel-held districts of Aleppo. Intermittent clashes were reported in the Damascus district of Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, with the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog saying at least seven people were killed there on Thursday. Regime forces pounded the southern Salaheddin and eastern Jazamati districts of Aleppo, the country s commercial hub, the Observatory said. Across Syria, at least 114 people were killed on Thursday, including 61 civilians, 32 regime troops and 21 rebels, according to the group. Regime forces shelled the village of Yalda, just south of the capital Damascus, killing 16 civilians, among them five children and four women, the Observatory said. "The villagers are terrified," the Syrian Revolution General Commission said in a statement, adding that "there are difficulties helping the wounded. Some houses collapsed with people still inside them." The violence came as rebels and troops prepared for a major battle in Aleppo. "The special forces were deployed on Wednesday and Thursday on the edges of the city, and more troops have arrived to take part in a generalised counter-offensive on Friday or Saturday," a security source said. Rebels also said a regime assault appeared imminent. "We expect a major offensive at any time, specifically on areas across the southern belt, from east to west," Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Okaidi, a spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army in Aleppo, told AFP via Skype. Syrian newspaper Al-Watan, which is close to the regime, led Thursday with the headline "Aleppo, the mother of all battles." For five hours on Wednesday night, without let-up, government forces bombarded the southwestern quarter of Salaheddin, which is almost entirely under rebel control, an AFP correspondent witnessed. The rebels admitted to the correspondent that they are no march for the military and many share the certainty they will die in the expected assault. In the meantime they prepared to confront the troops, filling sandbags to erect barricades and moving a bus into position to block a street. Some also belt out slogans to give themselves courage. In southern Damascus, street battles were also fought on Thursday morning in the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp, the Observatory said. "There are clashes on Street 30 in the Yarmouk camp between Syrian regime forces and fighters from rebel units. Explosions can be heard," it said.

US Midwest struggles amid worst drought in 50 years

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The severe drought in the US Midwest wreaked more havoc across the country on Thursday, forcing barges on the Mississippi River to lighten loads for fear of getting stuck and raising more concerns about higher prices for food and gasoline.  The most extensive drought in five decades intensified this week across the US Midwest and Plains states that produce most of the county s corn, soybeans and livestock, according to a report from climate experts. Almost 30 percent of the nine-state Midwest was suffering extreme drought, nearly triple from the previous week, according to the US Drought Monitor for the week ending July 24. Conditions in the Midwest, which produces roughly three quarters of the corn and soybean crops in the world s largest producer and exporter, worsened despite the first measurable rainfall in a month in some areas. Some corn farmers in southern Illinois, like Gary Weiman, have abandoned the season s crops and are mowing down their fields. Weiman said his crop was damaged so badly by the drought that he was forced to turn it into silage to feed cattle. More than 53 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico are in moderate drought or worse, a record-large amount for the fourth straight week in the Drought Monitor s 12-year history. In some part of Kansas, the Arkansas River has completely dried up, leaving dry river beds. The effects of the drought were also being being felt downstream. One year after its waters swelled to historic proportions, the lower Mississippi River now sits so low that barge operators hauling some 180 billion US dollars in goods must lighten their loads for fear of getting stuck. But costs stay the same. "It takes up the same amount of fuel to burn and the same amount of manpower to operated this vessel that we re on," said Ed Henleben of the Ingram Barge Company. If water levels drop any lower, industry insiders say prices could rise on the raw commodities commonly shipped by boat - coal, grain, petroleum and steel, to name a few. Mississippi is the main artery in the US waterway system.

Huge fire tears through New York apartment building

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More than one hundred firefighters in New York City battled a huge fire at a seven story apartment building on Thursday.  The apartment building is in New York s Brooklyn borough. It housed 115 apartments. Flames and thick smoke could be seen for blocks as firefighters stood on ladders to put out the blaze. According to the fire department, 23 firefighters were hurt while putting out the fire, most suffering from heat exhaustion. They are expected to be okay.

Powerful winds leave trail of destruction in Chile

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Chile s southern city of Punta Arenas is lashed by winds of up to 111 mph (180 kmh) - forcing the suspension of flights. Strong winds in excess of 100 mph battered the southern coastal city of Punta Arenas on Thursday (July 25) causing serious disruption and prompting airlines to cancel flights to other parts of the country.  Residents of Punta Arenas also lost power while one building lost its entire roof to the gales. "It s extremely strong, yes, it s extremely strong. It s lifting off the roofs," said one unidentified Punta Arenas resident. Two LAN airline flights were turned away from the President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo as the airport was forced to cancel flights. Punta Arenas usually experiences strong winds in Chile s summer months, but yesterday s weather was out of the ordinary according to the Navy s Milidrag Milic. "We are experiencing peak winds of 180 kilometres (111mph) per hours and sustained speeds of around 80 to 90 kilometres per hour," Milic said.

Oil prices rise after Draghi's euro support

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Global oil prices rose further on Thursday after European Central Bank head Mario Draghi pledged full support for the euro, traders said. Prices had earlier fallen on lingering eurozone debt strains and high US crude inventories, traders said. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in September delivery jumped 82 cents to $105.20 a barrel in London midday deals. New York s main contract, light sweet crude for September, gained 69 cents to $89.66 a barrel. Draghi pledged full support for Europe s single currency in a key speech on Thursday. The "ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me it will be enough," Draghi told an investors  conference in London. Oil prices had also risen on Wednesday, lifted by hopes of central bank stimulus that offset data showing an increase in US crude stockpiles. Crude futures have also climbed this week on encouraging Chinese manufacturing data. But they plunged by more than $3.50 on Monday as eurozone debt strains.

Euro strengthens after Draghi comments

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The euro rose sharply against the dollar Thursday after the head of the European Central Bank said the ECB would do whatever it took to save the single currency. The euro jumped to $1.2286 late Thursday from $1.2160 late Wednesday. It rose as high as $1.2329, its highest point against the dollar in over two weeks. Mario Draghi was speaking Thursday at a global investment conference at the Olympics. His comments sent stocks in the U.S. and Europe sharply higher. Fears that Spain and Italy may need to be rescued have intensified in recent weeks. Spain s economy, the euro zone s fourth-largest, may be too big for Europe to save. Draghi s comments helped ease those concerns. The dollar was mixed against other currencies. The British pound rose to $1.5690 from $1.5511. The dollar fell to 0.9775 Swiss franc from 0.9878 Swiss franc and to 1.0097 Canadian dollar from 1.0145 Canadian dollar. The dollar rose to 78.21 Japanese yen from 78.12 yen.

Scientists: Heat wave hurts London air quality

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British scientists say a heat wave has caused London s air quality to deteriorate, which could affect athletes  performances at the Olympics. Scientists from King s College in London say pollution in the British capital has reached the highest level in six years. Recent sunshine and low winds are "exactly the conditions that can bring summertime smog to London," the environmental experts said in a statement Thursday. They also launched a website that offers hourly air quality updates on a venue-by-venue and street-by-street basis. London has the largest and most advanced air quality surveillance systems in Europe. Funded by the government, they are run by the King s College center, whose researchers combine air pollution science, toxicology and epidemiology to determine the impact of air pollution on health.

Windies cruising at 145-0 in reply to NZ's 351

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Chris Gayle struck an unbeaten 85 and fellow opener Kieran Powell added 58 not out to power West Indies to 145-0 in reply to New Zealand s 351 all out at the close on day two of the first cricket test on Thursday. The veteran Gayle, in his first test since December 2010, cracked 12 fours and a six off 124 balls as he closed in on a 14th test century at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Fellow left-hander Powell s third test half century spanned 164 balls and included 10 boundaries. Gayle was badly dropped at point by Daniel Flynn off Doug Bracewell on 36 but played some majestic strokes all around the ground. Powell, 10 years Gayle s junior, was equally assured, his only real blemish being on 11, when he edged debutant seamer Neil Wagner just out of the reach of Martin Guptill at second slip. Earlier, off-spinner Sunil Narine claimed 5-132 as the Black Caps stretched their overnight total from 232-4 to 351. Narine, who led the hosts with three wickets on day one, claimed the wicket of nightwatchman Wagner in the day s third over and wrapped up his first five-wicket haul when he claimed Kruger van Wyk in the second session. Pacers Ravi Rampaul ended with 2-44 and fellow pacer Kemar Roach took 2-55 to provide solid support. Narine began the day well as Wagner (4) departed to a gully catch off the edge after 10 minutes. Kane Williamson and Dean Brownlie shared a stand of 40 for the sixth wicket to rebuild for the visitors. Williamson eventually fell to the belatedly taken second new ball, deflecting Roach back onto his stumps from a leaden-footed defensive stroke. Williamson scored 19 off 69 balls with two fours. Roach should have added Van Wyk off the next ball but umpire Richard Kettleborough failed to pick up a gloved leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. West Indies could not challenge the decision after using up their two failed reviews on day one. Brownlie compiled 23 off 66 balls, with three boundaries, before he drove at Rampaul and edged through to Ramdin to further dent the Kiwis. New Zealand, after taking lunch at 287-7, was boosted by a counterattack from Daniel Vettori (17) and Bracewell, who hit a career-best 39 off 31 balls. Bracewell shared a last-wicket stand of 42 with Chris Martin, who provided broad-batted resistance in 4 not out. Captain Darren Sammy removed Vettori to a miscued pull while Ravi Rampaul returned to end Bracewell s cameo through a skied catch to mid-on running back. In between, Narine snared Van Wyk to a catch off bat and pad at short leg. Gayle launched West Indies  reply with a volley of boundaries, racing to his half century off 39 balls as the hosts took tea at 72-0.

Boucher could recover most of eyesight: doctor

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Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher could regain most of the sight in his left eye after a freak accident tore his retina, his doctor said Thursday. "While it is impossible to predict the long-term outcome of Mark s eye injury, his medical team are nevertheless cautiously optimistic that he will have a reasonable recovery of the vision in his left eye," his doctor Peter Sandell said in a statement. The 35-year-old underwent two operations after his left eyeball was torn by a dislodged bail off an Imran Tahir delivery during a warm-up match prior to a three-Test series in England earlier in July. Doctors had feared he would be left totally blind in the damaged eye, but the prognosis has improved over time. "Due to the severity of the injury, as well as the pain related to the recent lengthy surgical procedure, Mark has been strictly house-bound," said Sandell. "Over the next three to six months, Mark will undergo further surgery procedures in an attempt to improve his vision." Boucher, whose Test career spanned 15 years, immediately retired from international cricket following the injury.

Victory lap: Olympic torch cheered through London

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The Olympic torch took a festive, valedictory lap around London on Thursday, taking in some of the sun-drenched capital s most famous landmarks on the second-to-last day of its trek across Britain. The torch carried by athletes, charity workers and celebrities thrilled thousands of Londoners as it swept across Regent s Canal in Camden, through the city s newly renovated neo-gothic train station at St. Pancras and down the winding streets of the ancient City of London. For many Londoners, it was their first glimpse of a golden beacon that has spent the past 68 days traveling up and down the country, from Loch Ness to Land s End, as well as going across the water to Ireland and Northern Ireland. In the north London neighborhood of Camden, many families with young children got up early to cheer as the torch kicked off its relay at the Victorian-era Roundhouse music hall around 6:50 a.m. Others simply hadn t been to bed. "It was pretty cool to see it actually," said 19-year-old Anastasia Gribaldi, a Goth who had been out all night clubbing. "It was like:  Wow, it s the torch  We weren t expecting it." The torch completes its 70-day, 8,000-mile (12,900-kilometer) journey on Friday, lighting the Olympic Stadium s cauldron in a ceremony marking the official start of the 2012 London Games. The identity of the final torchbearer is still a closely guarded secret. On Thursday, the torch was carried past some of the city s most impressive landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing St. and Buckingham Palace, where it was greeted by Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Earlier in the day it sped across London s River Thames along with Paralympic champion Ade Adipitan, whose dreadlocks flapped in the wind as he propelled his wheelchair across the slender Millennium Bridge. Londoners who have spent much of the past few weeks worrying about rain, Olympic security, and strikes appeared to lighten up. In the south London borough of Lambeth, flag-waving crowds chanted "We want the torch" In nearby Wandsworth, 24-year-old John Lake a cancer survivor who has raised thousands for the Brain Research Trust pumped his fist and waved the torch back and forth as he ran down the road with a mile-wide grin. "Make some noise" someone shouted as the crowd erupted into cheers. The crowds thickened further as the torch made its way back across the Thames, with Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders who played Patsy and Edina in the British comedy "Absolutely Fabulous" taking the flame for a jaunty walk in London s wealthy Chelsea neighborhood. On Oxford Street, London s famous shopping thoroughfare, the torch rode on an open-topped, double-decker bus. Still, not everyone was caught up in the Olympic excitement. "It was pretty convenient that it came through as I was getting my morning coffee," said Jack Tate, a 28-year-old retail worker in Camden. "Now I can say I ve seen it. There s no need to watch any more of this Olympics rubbish for the next few weeks."

Olympics: Senegal spoil Britain party

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Senegal spoiled Great Britain s long-awaited return to Olympic football on Thursday, snatching a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw in a bruising encounter at Old Trafford. Moussa Konate s 82nd minute leveller prevented Britain from making a winning start to their first appearance in an Olympic football tournament for 52 years after Craig Bellamy had fired the hosts into the lead. Britain almost grabbed a late winner when substitute Marvin Sordell struck the woodwork two minutes from time, but Senegal held on for a share of the points after a physical Group A tussle. It was a frustrating outcome for the hosts, who should have been awarded a penalty in the 70th minute after goalscorer Bellamy was clattered in the area in an atrocious challenge by Senegal defender Saliou Ciss. After a slow start, Britain had taken the lead midway through the first half with captain Ryan Giggs and Bellamy combining to score. Manchester United star Giggs, who at the age of 38 became the oldest man to play in the Olympic football competition, swung in a free-kick from the right.    Steven Caulker s aerial challenge caused confusion in the Senegal box, and the ball fell kindly for Bellamy who drove an angled shot beyond Ousmane Mane. Senegal should have equalised shortly afterwards however when a horrendous mistake from Jack Butland let in Sadio Mane. Butland s mis-hit clearance went straight to Mane near the edge of the area, but the Senegal striker s chipped effort drifted disappointingly wide to spare the British goalkeeper s blushes. An open second half saw both sides carve out promising opportunities but Senegal were fortunate to finish with 11 men after some uncompromising challenges went unpunished by Ravshan Irmatov.

PoliticusUSA

Cricket - Sports

Friday, July 27, 2012

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